BRIDGEPORT -- When Greenwich High School quarterback Jose Melo wasn't completing passes to Joe Kelly and Alex McMurray, Mark Bernstein was bulling his way through Bassick's defense with each pulverizing carry.

Yes, Friday was one of those games when everything the Cardinals tried offensively, and defensively, for that matter, worked.

Making his second start under center for the injured Liam O'Neil, Melo completed 13-of-18 passes for 213 yards and three touchdowns in the Cardinals' 48-2 rout of Bassick at Kennedy Stadium.

Greenwich, which opened its season with a 20-7 road win against Ridgefield, received 76 yards and two touchdowns from Bernstein and another impressive defensive effort, limiting the Lions to just six first downs.

"It's nice to get a shutout defensively," Cardinals coach Rich Albonizio said. "They got the ball in good field position a couple of times, but we knocked down some passes, had a couple of picks and made plays when we had to. I was very impressed with our guys today."

While the Cardinals (2-0) flourished on both sides of the ball, the Lions couldn't capitalize on the few opportunities they had. Bassick (0-2) had a dropped pass in the end zone and an array of penalties which stalled a drive in the red zone.

"It's the same old song, but a different tune, a different melody," Bassick coach Derrick Lewis said. "We must get to the point where we start making plays, getting stops and putting points on the scoreboard."

The Cardinals wasted little time imposing their will, scoring on their first two possessions. Melo reach the end zone on a 12-yard quarterback keeper, then connected with a wide open McMurray in the flat for a 12-yard score, putting the Lions in a 13-0 first-quarter hole. Sophomore Austin Longi set up McMurray's touchdown with a 49-yard punt return. The visitors threatened to reach the end zone on their third possession, but linebacker A.J. Brown provided one of the few highlights for the Lions, intercepting a Melo pass.

Bernstein scored on a 9-yard sweep to the left and tight end Joe Kelly made the offensive play of the day, catching a 41-yard bomb from Melo in the end zone on a jump ball. Kelly (three receptions, 81 yards) has been one of Melo's favorite targets the first two weeks.

"Jose has been playing real well the first two games," said Kelly, who also caught a 40-yard second-half touchdown. "He's moving good around the pocket and is making big plays. We ran the ball great today, which opened up our passing game."

"All I had to do was run the ball straight ahead, the offensive line did most of the work," said Bernstein, who added a 10-yard touchdown in the second half. "They made my job easy."

Seniors Taylor Olmstead, Nick Pulitano and Shawn Dunster each intercepted Bassick junior quarterback Vochan Fowler, who completed 11-of-22 passes for 101 yards. Fowler and running back Julian Fyffe had a difficult time gaining yards on the ground thanks to Greenwich's swarming defense. The Lions' best chance to get into the end zone came when Jihad Whitaker returned a kickoff in the second quarter 77 yards, putting the ball on the Cards' 12. A sack from linebacker Dan Claroni on a third down play halted the threat.

"We just have to keep fighting and keep moving forward," Lewis said. "This shows that even though we have progressed we have a long way to go. Sooner or later we have to make plays, get stops and punch one in the end zone."